Wig or no wig

[Mabethea]

Probably one of the first questions you have after being diagnosed with cancer is “will I lose my hair?” I didn’t even have to ask. It was the first item on the sheet they handed me when I went to find out about my chemo…1. Your hair will fall out on day 17 of cycle 1. (I’m on TAC)

I went home and immediately ordered a wig I had been looking at. When it came, I didn’t feel good in it at all and sent it back. I did order some “do rags” from Amazon that are okay if my head is cold, or want it on, if going out.

As a rule, I go without anything. The week before the day they told me my hair would start falling out, I went to my beautician to buzz cut my hair. I thought that would be better than finding clumps of hair on my pillow. I started feeling bald spots, but I’m on cycle 3 day 19 and still have some stubble, I can tell it is coming out pretty good now.

My family support is a big reason I can go bald. My beautiful daughter in love was born with Alopecia and has never had hair. Most people had no idea as she has always worn a beautiful wig. We had a terribly hot summer and their air conditioner wasn’t working. So one day she just tossed it. That Sunday she boldly came to church without her wig. After a few inquiries about her being sick…everyone was very complimentary about how beautiful she is…and she is. Evidently she went without her wig at home, so her two little girls didn’t think anything about it.

So when I lost my hair, they showed my three year old granddaughter a picture of me…her response…oh, Grandma has beautiful hair like Mama!…so there you go…bald it is.

So my advise is go with what’s comfortable for YOU! Good luck!

[BklynCatwoman]

Thank you for sharing your story! I love your granddaughter's comments.

Your attitude about hair loss is similar to mine. Tired of waiting for my hair to come out in clumps, I too got a "#1" buzz cut. My oncologist congratulated me on taking charge. I also ordered a wig, which I used just for business appointments--people who didn't know me before. I had/have salt-and-pepper hair but couldn't find a decent wig that didn't make me look like Bea Arthur in "Maude." I also had some bandanas, a cool cap and even some knitted caps I found in a beauty supply place. What I also had was great support at home. My husband said that bald, I looked like a "sci-fi punk rocker chick" and that he liked it.

Since I had chemo (TC) in the summer, I went without anything on my head at home. Except when my sister was around. I felt uncomfortable going bald in front of her. Before I lost my hair, she kept asking, almost on a daily basis, if my hair came out yet. She seemed almost obsessed with it. The idea of traditional beauty was always a bigger deal for her than it was for me. But besides my sister, my attitude was always that if you were going to hang at my house, you better get used to my bald head.

To me, being bald was the least of it. Hair grows back! I was more concerned about losing my life than losing my hair! It'll be 4 years since my diagnosis this April.

[Mabethea in reply to BklynCatwoman]

Yes, I felt that was one thing I could control. Hair vs life...I'm with you on that. Blessings!

[BklynCatwoman in reply to Mabethea]

Blessings right back at ya!

[daf10]

You go girl Nice to hear that you have taken the bull by the horns and made the most of what could be a depressing situation. Your story reminds me of something that happened to me. Once when I was in my oncologist office waiting for treatment a young woman sitting near me, noticing that I was wearing a scarf on my head, looked at me and said "let it shine, girl, let it shine".

For many of us being bald can be beautiful and for a woman like you is obviously beautiful.

[Hidden]

When my hair first started falling out, I had my head shaved (my stylist did it in her home in private & didn't charge me).

I'm not much of a wig person. I have a small head, and wigs all seemed to be too big for me, even small sizes. Anyway, I became the scarf queen. Got some free stuff online, also bought nice scarves from TLC Breast Cancer Catalogue. I was going through chemo in the winter, so going bald was not an option.